Assam Cong demands white paper from govt on microfinance loan waiver
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded a white paper from the state government on the number of women debtors eligible for the microfinance loan waiver as per the guidelines subscribed by the government.
As it is, the Opposition parties have slammed the BJP-led government for “deviating from its pre-poll promise of waiving all outstanding microfinance loans and instead citing conditions for waiver, thereby betraying the trust of the people.”
The microfinance waiver committee set up by the government had recently clarified that any loan availed after December 31, 2020 would not be waived.
The panel further suggested that the waiver would not cover income taxpayers, persons availing multiple loans, person having four wheelers and any person whose annual income is over one lakh.
“The statement of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that his speech in election rallies on micro-finance loan waiver for all women was a ‘political statement’ and not a ‘government statement’ is highly condemnable. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee takes strong exception to such remarks made by the chief minister of a state. It is a grievous matter of breach of trust,” the APCC said in a statement.
“Women of Assam had led huge protests over the U-turn of the BJP government on the loan waive to all women debtors and now they have been left in the lurch for putting their trust and faith in the electoral speech of the most powerful minister of Assam BJP. Is it their fault for believing him? Now it is the turn of these innocent women of Assam to not forget this betrayal of the BJP Government,” it stated.
“Now the question arises what will happen to those lakhs of women debtors who turned out in huge numbers in the election rallies believing the then finance minister’s words. Why didn’t he say to these innocent women that guidelines will be applicable? Lakhs of women will be left out due to these guidelines,” it added.
(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)
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